Football training aid

ABSTRACT

A football training aid is provided which includes a body member which is positioned adjacent the chest area of a football player so that the player, when catching a football, must catch the football in the player&#39;s hands away from the player&#39;s body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a football training aid and more particularly to a football training aid which teaches football players such as receivers to catch a football with their hands at a position away from the receiver's body.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the past, football players such as receivers were taught to catch the football in their arms and then cradle the football against their stomach or chest. In recent times, receivers have been taught to catch the football in their hands away from their body in the “double diamond” manner. To the best of Applicant's knowledge, there has not been a training aid available to assist in teaching a receiver to catch the football in the receiver's hands away from the receiver's body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The football training aid of this invention assists in teaching a football player to catch a football in the player's hands away from the player's body. The training aid of this invention comprises a relatively thick body member, which is preferably diamond-shaped, having a front and a back with the front being spaced a predetermined distance from the back thereof. The body member preferably includes a foam inner portion which is enclosed within a cover. A plurality of flexible straps are secured to the body member and extend therefrom and are designed to be wrapped around the player's shoulders and back and secured together to maintain the body member adjacent the player's chest so as to protrude outwardly therefrom.

The body member, by protruding outwardly from the player's chest, requires that the player must catch the football in the player's hands away from the player's body.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a football training aid for teaching a player to catch a football in the player's hands away from the player's body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a football training aid of the type described which is positioned adjacent the player's chest area and which is maintained in that position by a variety of different attachment methods.

A further object of the invention is to provide a football training aid which may be quickly and easily attached or secured to the player during practice times.

A further object of the invention is to provide a football training aid which is refined in appearance, durable in use and economical of manufacture.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the football training aid of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial back view of the football training aid of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a football player having the training aid positioned thereon;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a football player having the training aid positioned thereon; and

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a football player, with the training aid positioned thereon, about to catch a football in his hands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The football training aid of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 which is designed to be attached or secured to a football player 12 so as to be positioned adjacent the player's chest area. Aid 10 includes a relatively thick body member 14 having an approximate thickness of 4-6 inches. Preferably, the body member 14 is diamond-shaped as seen in the drawings but it could be square, rectangular or round. For purposes of description, body member 14 will be described as having a back side 16, front side 18, and sides 20, 22, 24 and 26. Preferably, each of the sides 20, 22, 24 and 26 have a length of approximately 9 inches. Body member 14 preferably includes an inner portion 28 comprised of flexible urethane foam material which has a cover 29 enclosing the same.

Aid 10 preferably includes a plurality of straps 32 which have one end secured to the back side 16 by stitching or the like and which extend therefrom as seen in the drawings. The straps 32 preferably have mating hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro strips 34 secured to the free ends thereof so that the straps 32 may be extended around the player's shoulders, sides and back and secured together so that the body member 14 is positioned adjacent the chest of the player as seen in the drawings. Although the use of the straps 32 is preferred, the body member 14 could have a Velcro strip on its back side which is adapted to be releasably secured to a Velcro strip secured to the front of a practice jersey or the like. Further, the practice jersey could have a pocket formed at the forward side thereof into which the body member 14 is inserted.

Regardless of the manner in which the body member 14 is attached to the player, it must be positioned adjacent the chest area of the player so as to protrude forwardly therefrom as seen in FIG. 4. When a football 36 is thrown to the player, the player must catch the football in the player's hands away from the player's body since the player cannot catch and cradle the football against the player's body as seen in FIG. 5. The aid 10 teaches the player to use his/her hands to catch the ball rather than in his/her arms.

Thus it can be seen that the football training aid of this invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 

1. A football training aid for teaching a football player to catch a football in the player's hands away from the player's body, comprising: a body member having a front and a back with said front being spaced a predetermined distance from said back thereof; said body member being selectively removably positionable adjacent the player's chest and protruding outwardly therefrom so that the player cannot catch a thrown football against the player's chest but must catch the football with the player's hands away from the player's body.
 2. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein said body member is cushioned.
 3. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein a plurality of straps are secured to said body member whereby said straps may be wrapped around the player's body to maintain said body member adjacent the player's chest.
 4. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein said body member is diamond-shaped in plan view.
 5. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein said body member has a thickness of approximately 4-6 inches.
 6. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein said body member has four sides, each of which have a length of approximately 9 inches. 